Cotton tramper



Dec. 20, 1932. I J. J. WALLACE 1,891,295

COTTON TRAMPER Filed Nov. 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jeffrgy 2]. WE1! [acs @@Mm/MZWM J. J. WALLACE COTTON TRAMPER Dec. 20, 1932.

Filed NOV. '7, 1929 -4 Sheets-S1168?. 2

DCC. 20, 1932 J 'J, WALLACE 1,891,295

COTTON TRAMPER Filed Nv. 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gimme/14l tot Jeffery Ll WEI/di? Wwf L W Dec. 21),` 1932.

COTTON TRAMPER Filed Nov. 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIE/ff@ Mya/[Ide MMFIMWW Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JEFFREY .TOI-IN WALLACE, OF AMITE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GULLETT GIN COMPANY, F AMITE, LOUISIANA, A CORPORATION OF LOUISIANA COTTON TRAMPER rIhis invention relates to improvements in cotton trampers, and has for its general obj ect-the simplification of structure, improvement in the mode of operation, decrease in the amount ofnecessary driving equipment, and enhancement in the power output of the machine.

Among the many other objects in view, this invention consists of means for reciprocating the tramper head whereby the movement of the tramper head is carried out with great rapiditythrough the idle portion of its range of movement, that portion of its movement devoted to the compression of cotton being conducted slowly with a correspondingly enormous increase in the development of power.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the control of the feed of the cotton to the baling box synchronously with the operation of the tramper head, so timed that the cotton is automatically fed to the baling box upon the upward stroke and part of the downward stroke of the tramper head,.the feed being automatically cut olf during the period of compression of cotton inthe baling box.

A further object of the invention is the cooperation of the gate which reciprocates with the tramper head, with the feed roll in braking engagement .with the latter, when the feed roll is declutched, preventing rotation of the feed roll through momentum after the power has been cut off.

Another object of the invention resides in the specific construction of the feed roll, by which its securing parts may be readily removed.

Other objects concern themselves with the novel construction of the gear casing, which serves also as a support for the Vmain operating shaft, and the improvement in means by which power is primarily applied to the apparatus. v

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

- In thedrawings: Y

Figure l is a front elevation of the automatic cotton tramper embodying the principles of the invention;

, Figure 2 is aV plan view on a somewhat enlarged scale, parts being broken away at either end;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, parts being omitted, the tramper head being shown in raised position; v

Figure 5 is a similar View, the tramper head being shown in down position;

Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 6,-6 of Figure 5; Y n

Figure 7 is a detailed view in perspective 65 showing the guides for controllin the clutch between the tramper headand feet ing means;

Figure 8 is a plan view partly in section, showing the improvements in the means for the primary application of power to the apparatus; r

, Figure 9 is an end view of the same;

Figure 10 is a section taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figurel 11 is a cross-section of the feed roll showing the relation of the gate to said feed roll; and

Figure 12 is a longitudinal elevation of the feed roll.

Referring now, in detail, to the several figures, and first adverting to what is sho-wn in Figure .1, the numeral l represents a pair of the spaced side frames operatively positioned above the baling box 2, the latter beingv of usual construction, and the side frames l being themselves supported in a suitable manner such as by the standards 3 and 4. For convenience, and since the showing of Figure l was taken from an actual installation, the standard 4 is shown supported on a sill of the press.

Referring to Figure 3, in conjunction with Figure 1, it will be noted that side frames l are laterally supported, as is usual in such constructions by cross frames 4.

The side frames 1 support oppositely disposed vertical pairs of angle irons 5, the same being spaced apart and functioning as guides for the plunger 6 of the tramper head. The vertical guides are braced by diagonal members 7 suitably anchored adjacent the tops of said guides, and at suitable points on said side frames. The guides, together with their diagonal supports, are cross-braced at the top by means such as the angle irons 8.

The plunger of the tramper head is formed of spaced channel bars 9, having their flanges outwardly directed so as to embrace the extended flanges of the pairs of angle irons 5 which constitute t-he guides. The channel bars are rigidly spaced apart by means of the upper and lower bars 10 and` 11, the former serving as a bearing for the plunger reciprocating means.

At the base of the plunger is the tramper head 12, which is of usual construction, and suitably secured by means, well understood, to the lower end of the plunger. At one side of the baling box, and above the level of the top thereof, is a chute 13 fedwith cotton in any suitable manner, and which ordinarily communicates with the baling box so as to deliver cotton thereto when the plunger head is raised. A gate 14 is suitably fixed to the plunger head and so arranged as toI close the communication between the chute 13 and the baling box when the plunger head descends with the object of preventing the cotton being delivered on top of the tramper head. The gate 14 is guided in suitable guideways 15.

A reciprocatory movement is imparted to the tramper head through the plunger 6 by means of a bell crank arrangement consisting of a shaft 16 supported in `bearings pro'- vided at the top of the gear casing 17. Said bell crank comprises an arm 18, fixed to the shaft 16 and journaled about the bearing bar 10. The bell crank comprises, also, the spaced arms 19, also fixed to the shaft16 and which extend angularly with respect to the direction of the arm 18. The arms-19 are slotted lengthwise, and in the slots play pins 20, each provided with anti-friction bearings 21.

The pins 20 are at the outer ends of cranks 21, fixed with respect to a shaft 22 passing through the gear box 17. The shaft 22 is rotated by a worm drive 23, and it is clear` that in the course of rotation of the cranks 21, the bell crank will be oscillated so that the arm 18 travels through a range, the limits of which are represented by the full and dotted lines positions of said arms. It is also clear that when the cranks 21 are moving substantially' at right angles to the slots in the arms 19, the angular movement of the bell crank will be quite small and a toggleeffect produced imparting an enormous power thrust to the outer extremity of the arm 18 which isattached to the bar 10.

" 4cotton within the baling box. When the cranks 21 are near the ends of the slots in the arms 19, it is obvious that the angular movement of the bell crank is quite rapid. Thus throughout the greater part of the idle movement of the tramper head, the motion will be rapid, while, when the tramper head is in position to compress the cotton, its rapidity of motion will be diminished with corresponding increase in power.

The worm drive 23 is fixed to a shaft 24 which passes through the gear box 17, carrying at one end, the means for moving the primary source of power in the apparatus.

The primary source of power which operates the mechanism is located at one end of the shaft 24 and is designated, in general by the reference character 25, and at its other end the shaft 24 carries a clutch mechanism, in general designated by the reference characterV 26, and which is best shown in the group of Figures 4, 5 and 6.

This clutch is intimately concerned with the operation of the feed roll 27 rotating in the chute 13, and which delivers the cotton to the baling box.

The said feed roll lies outside of the plane in which the gate 14 reciprocates, and is driven through the said primary source of power 25 and shaft 24, by means of a pulley 28 free on to said shaft and operatively connected to said feed roll by means of a belt or other suitable flexible connection 29. The belt 29 is, of course, arranged outside of the path of movement of the gate 14.

The pulley 28 has a drum 30 forming one of the clutch faces engageable by ay clutch member 31 having the complementary clutch face. The clutch member 31 is splinably mounted on the shaft 24 and it is moved into and out of engagement with the complementary clutch member by means directly operable by the tramper without the intermediary of any human agency. It will be noted, particularly from Figures 4 and 5, as well as in Figure 1, that one of the channel bars constituting the plunger of the tramper head is provided with lower and upper cam slides 32 and 33. These cam slides cooperate with arms 34 and 35 extending from a clutch operating rod 36 into the path of the cam slides. The rod 36 is reciprocable in suitable bearings 37 supported by the side frames 1, and is best shown in Figure 6. f

It will be readily understood that when the plunger has been elevated until the upper end ofthe cam slide 32 engages the arm 34, the arm, and with it the rod 36 will be pushed to the left as viewed in Figures 4, 5 and 6, and particularly Figure 6, throwing the clutch into engagement. This connects the power shaft 24 with the feed roll 27. When the plunger has risen thus far, the gate 14 will be raised to clear the passage between the chute 13 and the baling box so that the feed roll has now unobstructed access to the baling box.

' On its return stroke, when the plunger has descended until the cam slide 33 has made contact With the arm 35, this arm, and with it the clutch rod 3G will be moved to the right as vieived in Figure 6, declutching the power shaft 24 from the feed roll so that the latter is now no longer driven. By this time the gate 14 has descended so as to occlude the passage between the chute and baling box to prevent the cotton falling in over the top of the tramper head. Since the feed roll is necessarily somewhat massive, it Would continue to rotate by inertia in the mass of cotton in the chute, even after the gate had closed down, resulting in an overflowing of the cotton above the top of the chute. To prevent this contingency, an expedient is provided for quickly bringing the feed roll to a stand-still.

Before explaining this expedient in detail, it will be necessary to describe the construction of the feed roll, Which is a cylinder of any suitable material constructed as is shown in Figures 11 and 12 of several segments 38 spaced apart so as to admit radial inserts 39 which may extend from one end of the roll to the other and may be secured in place, together with said segments in any suitable manner. The inserts are provided with rubber or other flexible strips 40 which extend longitudinally of the feed roll and project beyond the general periphery of the same.

These strips, by reason of their giving coetlicient of friction and their flexibility, have the eEect of feeding the cotton by wiping it through the chute. Itis these strips 40 which are made use of in bringing the feed roll to a quick stand-still once it has been declutched; and, for this purpose, the feed roll 12 is so positioned relatively to the gate 14, that the latter acts as a buffer against which the flexible strips 40 engage, as clearly shoWn in Figure 11, the gate thus acting as a brake in slowing down the feed roll.

Power is primarily delivered to the shaft 24 by means of fast and loose pulleys 41 and 42 mounted on said shaft, 42 being the fast pulley. A belt shifter of ordinary make is used, consisting' of a longitudinal shiftable rod 43, the ends of Whi ch are slidably mounted in the sides of a yoke 44 and secured to the side frames 1. An operating handle 45 is pivotally connected with respect to the appa'- ratus, one end of Which is suitably secured to the rod 43 for shifting the same. Fingers 46 mounted in suitably spaced relation on the rod 43, embrace the belt and shift it from the loose pulley to the fast pulley upon appropriate operation of the handle.

Since it is desirable to bring the movement of the entire apparatus to a quick standstill When the power is shifted to the loose pulley, a brake 47 is provided for the fast pulley, the same being best shown in Figure 10 together With automatic operating means therefor. These automatic operating means comprise a cam 48 mounted on the rod 43, Which is shown in detail in Figure 10, having an inclined surface 50 formed as part of the .pivotally mounted brake lever 51, When the rod 43 isV reciprocated so as to shift the belt from the fast to the loose pulley, the cam moves in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 10, so as to engage the tail piece 50 and to rock the brake into engagement with the fastpulley 42.

When the rod 43 is moved in the opposite direction, that is to say, in the direction in which the belt is shifted to the fast pulley, the cam 48 moves in the opposite direction releasing itsengagement with the tail piece 50 and permitting the brake'47 to loosen its hold upon the fast pulley.

@ne of the important features of the invention is the gear casing 17 which, as has already been described in connection with the various operative parts, aords a bearing for the main bell crank by Which the tramper head and plunger are operated, as Well as affording bearings for the shaft 22 and the power shaft 24.

The gear casing 17 is suitably supported pon the side frames 1 and forms a'tight housing for the Worm drive, providing a lubricant reservoir for this drive, as Well as for the associating bearings. p

This materiallyincreases the power out'- put of the machine, as Well as lengthening lthe life of the various driving parts.

A description ofthe operation of this invention has been necessarily interspersed with the description of the various parts so that a 'mere summary of its mode of operation appears to be all that is now required.

Assuming that the plunger and tramper head are in elevated position, the gate is then up so that there is an unobstructed passage from the chute into the baling box. As has been stated, While the tramper head is moving still further upward,and during the earlier part of its descent stroke, the feed roll is feeding in the cotton by means of the flexible strips. When the tramper head reaches a determined point in its descent, the gate begins to occlude the passage between the chute and therbaling box'. It is at this time that the camslide 33 engages the clutch releasing member to release the clutch so that.`A`1

the feed roll is no Vlonger positively, driven. By this time, the gate has descended and the driving rod Vquickly comes to a stand-stillV through the expenditureof its momentum in the frictional engagement of the flexible -f roll prevents the cotton being fed against lthe v head.

I/Vhen the tramper head again lifts and finally reaches a point where the gate starts to open, the cam slide 32 is engaged by the clutch releasing lever throwing the clutch into engagement so that the feed roll at once begins to feed cotton through the passage which has just been opened by the gate. This action, it will be understood, is altogether automatic and requires no action whatsoever on the part of the operator.

When it is desired to throw the power off of the machine altogether, the hand lever 45 is operated, shifting the belt from the fast to the loose pulley, and at the same time causing the engagement of the brake 47 with the fast pullley quickly bringing the parts to a standsti Thus, one single operating lever is suiiicient to control the proper functioning of the entire machine.

IVhile I have, in the above description, disclosed what has been found to be a practical, and it is believed, preferred form of theI invention, yet it is to be understood that the details of construction as herein dened are merely by way of example, and not to be considered limitative, since the scope of the invention is to be determined by a fair interpretation of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A cotton tramper including tramper head mechanism and a gate movable with said tramper head mechanism, a feed roll including a drum having projecting flexible strips engageable with said gate when the latter is in closed position for exerting a braking effect on said feed roll.l

2. In combination with a cotton tramper, a feed roll comprising segments positioned so as to form radial spaces extending axially of said roll, inserts in said spaces, and flexible strips secured to said inserts and projecting beyond the periphery of said roll.

8. A cotton tramper including tramper head mechanism, a gate movable with said tramper head mechanism, a feed roll, and means mounted on the feed roll and coacting with said gate tostop inertia rotation of the feed roll.

4. A cotton tramper including a tramper head mechanism, a gate movable with said tramper head mechanism, and a feed roll, .said gate and feed roll so arranged that the gate will be in the path of rotation of the feed roll upon its descent whereby the inertia rotation of the feed roll is braked.

` 5. In a cotton tramper, tramper head mechanism and a feed roll, driving means for said tramper head mechanism and feed roll including a clutch between the source of power and said feed roll, said tramper head including a plunger, cam slides carried by said plunger, and clutch releasing means including a rod extending transversely of said cam slides and having elements engaged by said slides for reciprocating said rod to release said clutch at a determined point in the descent ofsaid plunger and for re-engaging said clutch at a determined point in the ascent of said plunger.

kIn testimony whereof I affix my signature. JEFFREY JOHN WALLACE. 

